A TEENAGER accused of murdering a schoolboy today admitted stamping on the victim's head.

The 16-year-old is on trial with another boy the same age at Chester crown court where they are both accused of kicking 15-year-old Johnny Delaney to death.

During their trial, the court has heard that Johnny, who lived with his family at an official council-run travellers caravan park in Oil Street, Vauxhall, Liverpool, died from serious head injuries on May 28.

Prosecutor Christopher Vospa has alleged that the two youths on trial murdered Johnny because he was a member of the Irish travelling community.

Johnny had been visiting friends, who were staying at an unofficial travellers site on playing fields off New Grosvenor Road, Ellesmere Port.

Mr Vospa has told the jury that the two 16-year-olds accused of murder were with a group of teenagers on the field and a racist remark was directed at Johnny as he walked towards caravans.

Today the court heard from one of the accused boys.

He cannot be identified for legal reasons and has pleaded not guilty to murder, as has the other youth on trial.

He admitted being involved in a fight with Johnny, but denied making any comments about the fact that the boy was a traveller.

He said that as he was walking across the field with his friends, a boy who was standing near Johnny shouted "what's your problem?" towards him and his friends.

He said the boy who shouted grabbed Johnny's arm and was leading him towards them.

He said that the boy then picked up a fencing panel and swung it.

The youth on trial, who comes from Ellesmere Port, said: "Johnny started to run away.

"It was about 15 metres before he tripped over. I kicked him to the backside and Johnny Delaney was fighting back."

The boy admitted stamping to the right side of his face.

He said he stopped attacking Johnny when a woman shouted at him. Later that evening a friend called him and told him that Johnny was receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the playing fields.